A parent’s guide to Sexual Health Education

Most parents understand the concept of sexual health education.

Many parents do not consider classroom instructions on sexual health education sufficient for their children’s needs.

Although basic information is shared during class, the teenager might not hear or understand everything that he or she needs to know.

Sexual health education is a parent’s responsibility, awkward as it may be. Still, society, by and large, relies on the formal school system to provide children with the necessary biological and social background about sexuality. But by giving follow-up information and reinforcing what the teenager learned in school, parents can help their children in making wise decisions when it comes to sex.

When talking about sexual health education to kids, being direct is also needed for clear communication

It’s not easy for parents to talk to their own children about the sensitive topic of sex. Perennially waiting for the proverbial right moment can make parents miss opportunities to teach their children about the need for information, responsibility, and circumspect when it comes to sexual behaviour. Rather than getting ready for this kind of talk, think of sexual health education as just another ongoing conversation.

For example, seize the moment whenever a TV program raises issues on responsible sexual behaviour, and use this to start the discussion. If in case a good topic comes up at a not-so- convenient time, simply say that talking about this later would be a good idea, and mean it by talking about it at a much later time.

Keeping sexual health education low-key may be a good idea. Never try to pressure the child to talk about sex. Simply bring up the topic whenever you are alone with your child or teenager. Everyday moments like car rides, grocery shopping, or during late night snacks can be the best opportunity to talk about sex. Also, being honest with your children is important.

Admitting to them that, like them, you feel uncomfortable talking about sex but emphasise that it is a subject that you must discuss openly without pre-judgment or apprehensions. If ever the child asks a question that any of the parents don’t have an answer to, offering to do research on the answers or looking them up together should be a good alternative.

When talking about sexual health education to kids, being direct is also needed for clear communication. Stating feelings and opinions on specific sex issues such as oral sex and intercourse, and presenting the risks involved objectively, including emotional pain, sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy can open their eyes to possible risks when dealing with premarital sex.

In addition, lecturing or giving out scare tactics won’t do any good. Never lecture them or rely on scare tactics just to discourage them from doing any sexual activities. Instead, by listening carefully to what they have to say can help you understand the child’s everyday pressures, challenges, and concerns with regards to sexual health.

In having the right sexual health education-related conversation with a teenager, it is essential to go beyond the facts. The child needs to know the right information, but still needs to open up to their feelings, their values, and attitudes. Try and examine ethical questions with responsibility in the context of the family’s own personal or religious beliefs.

Planned Parenthood

Sex education helps people gain the information, skills and motivation to make healthy decisions about sex and sexuality. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest provider of sex education, reaching 1.5 million people a year.

Sex education is high quality teaching and learning about a broad variety of topics related to sex and sexuality, exploring values and beliefs about those topics and gaining the skills that are needed to navigate relationships and manage one’s own sexual health. Sex education may take place in schools, in community settings, or online. Planned Parenthood believes that parents play a critical and central role in providing sex education. Resources for parents can be found here.

Sex, Etc

Sex, Etc. is on a mission to improve teen sexual health across the country! Each year, five million young people visit Sexetc.org, and over 45,000 read our magazine to get honest and accurate sexual health information. We’ve helped teens with answers to their question about sex, relationships, pregnancy, STDs, birth control, sexual orientation and more!

The Sex Education Forum

The Sex Education Forum is a membership organisation and works together with its members and other stakeholders to achieve quality sex and relationships education (SRE).

Our members include schools, colleges, youth settings, local authorities, NHS trusts, local and national organisations and individuals. Find out how to become a member.

Established in 1987, we believe that ALL children and young people have the right to good SRE. Our work on SRE is underpinned by evidence, a rights-based approach and the expressed needs of children and young people.

By inviting your children to have more discussions with you on sex and other issues that matter to them, you will also make your relationships with them more healthy, informative, and fun.